Think Dangerously

Buying Used in Corvallis: Local Shops Have You Covered for Bikes, Clothes, Books, and More

One great quality of Corvallis is the abundance of used merchandise available. From books to bikes to beds, we’ve carefully arranged a list of must-visits for your next used treasure hunt!Furniture – As residents of a college town, Corvallis residents often enjoy informal sidewalk sales every summer when OSU students leave town or shift housing locations. Sidewalks are full of couches, desks, recliners, lamps, and mattresses. However, when school is in, there are still places to go to find used furniture:

OSUsed Store, 644 SW 13th St. (on the corner of 13th St. and A Ave.)- Surplus EVERYTHING from the University. Featuring everything from computer processors and office furniture to shelving units and bicycles. Recently they even sold a railroad car! Open on Wednesdays only.

Bikes/Sporting Equipment – In our active and bike-friendly city, it is not surprising there are many places to find used sporting equipment. Consider the following excellent choices if you need some gear to get you moving:

Play It Again Sports, 1422 NW 9th St. – Used sporting equipment from Bicycles and Baseball gear to Weights and Wetsuits. Best place in town for any and all used sporting equipment.

Cyclotopia, 435 Southwest 2nd St. – These guys almost always have five to ten used bikes for sale. In addition, they often have a selection of gently used biking equipment- think helmets, shoes, and lights- available for purchase.

Peak Sports, 207 NW 2nd St. – Hosts a Bike Swap in September & June- 3 days each. They also host a boat swap that generally occurs in late June.

Corvallis Bicycle Collective, SE Roche Lane off of Hwy. 34.

Cycle Solutions, 968 NW Circle Blvd.

OSU Student Sustainability Initiative, 738 SW 15th Street.

If you are a member of OSU’s Rec Sports, don’t forget to utilize the Outdoor Recreation Center on Campus (Located at the east entry to Dixon Recreation Center) for equipment rentals!

Nancy Kneisel, founder and owner of Second Glance, Inc. Photo by Lisa Tedder.

Clothing – Corvallis offers nearly as many amazing used clothing stores as it does new. The following shops offer gently used items in personal, individual, and welcoming atmospheres:

Revolve, at the “Hotel Julian” on 2nd St. and Monroe – Resale Boutique – Men’s & Women’s clothing & Consignment. They also stock new items from vendors who operate according to fair-trade and sweatshop-free principles and sustainable methods.

Books & Music – Corvallis, ranked fifth on Forbes magazine’s 2008 list of “America’s Smartest Cities,” has a number of independent bookstores, including the Book Bin, Browser’s Books, Grass Roots, and the OSU Bookstore. Also, many coffee shops feature book exchange shelves, so next time you visit the 2nd street Beanery or Imagine Coffee, bring a book and exchange it for one you’ve never read! Here are some great local picks for books as well as music:

Browser’s Bookstore, 121 Northwest 4th St.

The Book Bin, 215 SW 4th St.

Happy Trails, 100 Southwest 3rd St.

A Bit-O-Everything – Like any good college town, in addition to Goodwill, Corvallis offers countless quirky thrift stores. Here are some great options to get you started:

The ARC, 928 NW Beca Ave. – Advocates and provides services, as needed, to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Consider them especially for quality furniture.

1 thought on “Buying Used in Corvallis: Local Shops Have You Covered for Bikes, Clothes, Books, and More”

Great article, I’m totally in “re-use” and “recycle”, but here’s a great store for used furniture that you guys missed out, it’s Furniture Exchange on 2nd St. I’ve purchased some furniture there that was almost new, very clean. I thought you should know 🙂